First Day of School

August 10 was the first day of school.  A half-day on a Friday again.

Walter was visiting so he got to join us on a first day of school, too.

Hannah had two teachers in first grade.  Olive had one of them in first grade, and now the other one in second grade!  There are 19 kids in her class.

 Hannah's grade went from 3 sections to 2 this year so she has a huge class: 27 kids.  She actually likes it more than last year, though, because there are more girls.  

Hannah did not allow me to take a picture with her teacher, but I did get one of her and her BFF.

And here they are back on the first day of kindergarten!

Art Wall

Another year, another wall of art.  Here is first/third grade.

Random Summer Pics

Camping and kayaking with the Chases and Sales.

Hannah tried a standing paddle board for the first time.

 Make up by Hannah.

At the Crown Center 50 States exhibit we got to revisit some places we saw on vacation.

This was riding a mule down the Grand Canyon.

I went to "The Room" showing with Tommy himself. :)  Kinda.

We went a pool party baby shower for the Landons.

We spent a weekend visiting the Finleys in their new house in Carrollton and we went to a street fair while we were there.  

Trying out our new kid kayak, which is really for one kid but we fit two. :)

These girls love learning so much they do their own research projects over the summer.  Olive drew lots of space pictures on vacation and then put together a presentation when we got home.

 Hannah did the same for Native Americans and incorporated facts we learned on our trip.

Ranchmart Anniversary

Ranchmart, the shopping center near our house, celebrated its 60th (north side) and 50th (south side) anniversary.  Steve was out of town on a guys canoe trip, so it was a girl weekend for us.  And there is nothing I like better than a festival.  There was a mini train to take people across the street, bounce houses, carnival games, petting zoo, and much more!  There was even a free showing of 1968 "Love Bug" in the old movie theater.  I didn't know what the girls would think, but they loved it!  There were also lots of pictures of the shopping center back in the day and I love stuff like that.  And did I mention the girls also let me braid their hair?  Perfect Saturday.

Tongue out and frog flying.

We watched an aerial performance and then they let the kids try out a few moves on it!

What are they petting?

Porcupines!

First time petting a zebra.

Butterfly Festival

It's been awhile since we've been to the Butterfly Festival at Powell Gardens.  I couldn't believe how little the girls looked in our old pictures.  They have expanded the festival to weekdays instead of just weekends.  So we got less crowds and more butterflies this time!

Fake butterfly on the head, real one on the shoulder.

Two birds in a nest and one scary lady.